Update: Apple names Andrea Jung as Co-Lead Director

Apple Board member, Andrea Jung, has been moved into a key role as Apple’s co-lead director. Jung is fluent in Mandarin and has very strong China business connections. This move bodes well for Apple’s expanding role in China.

Update – Feb. 24, 2010: Bloomberg (Connie Guglielmo): Apple Inc., after facing criticism that its board is too close-knit, will hold its first shareholder meeting tomorrow with a new co-lead director: Avon Products Inc. Chief Executive Officer Andrea Jung. Jung, the newest director and only woman serving on the seven-member board, quietly took over as co-lead in December. She succeeds former Apple executive Bill Campbell, one of the company’s longest-serving board members and a mentor to CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs is expected to appear at the meeting. Read full article > here

Update – 6/04/08: Avon Announces $5 Million Additional Commitment for China Earthquake Reconstruction

NEW YORK, June 4 /PRNewswire/ — Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) today announced that it is committing an additional $5 million (35 million RMB) for long-term reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province in China. The company said that the money will be donated through a specially established China Earthquake Reconstruction Fund within the Avon Foundation and that the money will be disbursed to priority rebuilding initiatives as needs are identified

Apple names Avon’s Andrea Jung to Board

The addition of Andrea Jung to the Board could prove to be a brilliant move for Apple. Some have speculated that Jung was brought on to help woo NBC back into the iTunes fold (Jung is also on GE’s Board). While this angle may have some merit, I suspect that Jung’s “China business connections” will ultimately prove to be more important to Apple’s long-term growth plans. Under Jung’s direction, Avon dramatically expanded market-share in China. Conducting business in China is very much about building relationships and Jung has worked with the central authorities in China.  These connections are important. As an Apple Board member, Jung’s formal role will likely be limited … She may simply make a few introductions. Yet her understanding of Chinese business culture and fluency in Mandarin may be quite valuable to Apple.